Guard for saws



C. C. PETERSEN GUARD FOR SAWS- Nov. 17, 1953 Filed Dec. 19, 1947 3 sheets-sheet 1 v 23 as 0- 1 125 I INVENTOR. l 1 ch mncpdem Aiiorngy hJaQnA 12.6mm

Nov. 17, 1953- Filed Dec. 19, 1947 C, C. PETERSEN GUARD FOR SAWS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7, 1953 c. c. PETERSEN 2,659,400

GUARD FOR SAWS Filed Dec. 19, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CkrzshanCfPeIersen BY LL). @(ANM/ fliiorneg Patented Nov. 17, 1953 2,659,400 GUARD FOR SAWS Christian 0. Petersen, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Grace Petersen, administratrix, assignor to Grace Petersen Application December 19, 1947, Serial No. 792.141

Claims.

This invention relates to saw guards and has particular relation to a type of guard wherein a special protection is provided for the protection of the hand of the operative and wherein the Working point of the saw is visible.

In the operation of saws and particularly circular saws there is a tendency of the operative to force the piece of work underneath the guard with one of his hands, to a point where some portion of the hand may come into contact with the saw with the result that a serious accident may occur. The likelihood of an accident is increased where the wood or other material of which the work is made, is of variable density, causing the resistance to the forward movement to be varied and in turn vary the speed. In addition, the point of action of the saw is usually out of sight, being behind some portion of the guard. This increases the likelihood of an accident.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved guard for a saw.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a saw guard, wherein on approach to a saw blade, the finger of the operative nearest the point of action of the saw will encounter a plurality of projections which will warn the operative, impede the movement of the finger of the operative, and at the same time will be so placed that the operative may see the point of action of the saw to permit observance of the accuracy of the action.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a saw guard wherein, with the point of action of the saw in sight, there'will be a first contact of a finger or other part of the operatives hand with a portion of a guard means to warn of danger and if this is not effective,- a further stop means will arrest the movement, of the finger or other portion of the hand, toward the point of action of the saw.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a saw guard which has a pivoted action with relation to an outer protective saw guard which will permit of a view by the operative of the point of action of the saw and have portions spaced from each other, yet close enough to provide an interference to movement of the finger or hand dangerously close to the point of action of the saw.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the complete specification and claims.

Referring to the drawing where my invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a side view showing an outer guard 2 and an inner guard in section for the purpose of clear illustration.

Fig." 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the work being moved to a position where the saw can function. I

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but showing the operatives finger atthe first dangerous position. Fi 4. is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the cut of the saw almost complete and the operatives finger in a position to be arrested by the second projection of theinner guard. I

Fig. 51s a view't'aken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.5 but showing a modified form of pivotmeans for the inner guard.

Fig. 7 is a viewsimilar to Fig. lb'ut'of a medi fication.

Fig. '8 is a front view from the line 8 8 Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but of a further modification. l

Fig. '10 is a front view taken on the line I 0-H! of Fig. 9.

Figs. 11 and 12 are side and front spectively of a modification.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are side, front and top views, respectively of an adaptationto' use with a band saw.

Figs. 16 and 17 are side and front views of the invention as adapted for use with a jigsaw. 7

The samereference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the specifica i e an d wi simpor-tant'featu're of this invention is the construction whereby a full View of the point of action of the saw is obtained while the fingers and other parts of the hand of the operative are fully protected. In the present illustration, the

projections, which contact the fingers or other portions of-the operatives hand, are supported from a suitable support or'the outer guard usually found, in one form or another, as a guard for a saw.

The reference character 20 designates the saw table of a circular saw 2| which is used as an example in the drawing. The saw 2| is pivotally mounted to rotate on the shaft 22 and extends above the top surface of the table. The saw ro-' tatfs counterclockwise as illustrated in Figs. 1

The outer guard 23 is of a slightly different type than the usual guard in'that it is wider to provide space'for the inner guard to be presently described. The outer guard is suitably supported for movementin a vertical plane as is wenrnowa 3 in the art. In order to carry out the purposes and objects of this invention, the front of the outer guard is open as at 23b to present a full view of the point of action where the saw is cutting the work. This is illustrated clearly in Figs. 6 and 7 The open end does not expose the hands of the operative to danger from the saw as will be later made clear. The work piece is illustrated at 28.

Secured in the side of the outer guard 23 are the ends of a pivot rod 25 which pivotally supports the inner guard member 26. This inner guard 26 has a plurality of projections 26a, 26b. The projections 26a, 26b are preferably in a plane parallel to the plane of the saw and at a sufficient distance from th plane of the saw to provide a clear view of the point of action of the saw from the position of the operative. The second projection 26b is preferably unitary with the projection 26a and is so located that when the inner guard with its normal tendency to drop on the table 20, touches the table, the second projection 26b will be near the table 20 but not necessarily in contact therewith. And when the Work 28 is being cut by the saw 2|, the projection 26a will hold the projection 261) above and out of contact with the work 28, until the end of the work 28 clears the projection 26a.

From Fig. 5, it will be observed that there are two sets of projections 26a, 26b, one set in a plane at one side of the plane of the saw and the other set in another plane at the other side of the saw plane. In order to hold the two inner guard members 26 with their projections 26a, 26b in relatively fixed position, there are provided two spacer rods 260 which are located in positions which wil insure the unitary movement of both members 26 and at the same time not interfere with the operatives clear view of the point of cutting of the saw 2|. Another consideration in the placing of the spacer rods 260 is the protective feature of the inner guard. If the inner guard members are desired to be placed a sufiicient distance apart So that a space wide enough to permit entry of a finger results, then the spacer rods 260 may be placed so that when in a low position, they will prevent entry of a finger between the projections 26b, thus effectively protecting the fingers of the operative from coming into contact with the saw blade 2|.

I will now describe the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5, which has just been described.

With the saw in operation, the work 28, such as a board to be out, is moved along the top of the table, its edge coming into contact with their!- clined edges 23a of the outer guard 23. On contract with the inclined edges 23a, the outer guard 23 is lifted at its forward end, the work then coming into contact with the projection 26a as illustrated in Fig. 3. This raises the projection 26b to a position where its lower end will be above the level of the upper surface of the work. If desired, the type of outer guard which is adjusted to a proper height to just clear the work, may be used.

The work is now pushed forward until th saw comes into contact with and begins cutting the work as shown in Fig. 3. During this time until the end of the cut is approached, there is little danger of the fingers or other portions of the hand of the operative coming into contact with the saw. And during the cutting operation, it will be apparent that the point of action of the saw at the upper surface of the work is. continuously in view of the operative, due-to the divided '4 construction of the inner guard member 26 and the open ended construction at 23b of the outer guard member 23.

It is near the end of the cutting operation that accidents are most liable to occur. For this reason, it is at this point that my invention is constructed to begin its main function. Referring to Fig. 3 where the end of the work passes the projection, the cross section of the operatives finger and its position have been indicated, as at 2]. It will be noted that in addition to the fact that, as already pointed out, the operative is able to see the point of action of the saw, the projection 26a will contact the finger 21 and warn the operative of his dangerous approach to the saw. If, after the work has passed through and the end of the out has been reached, the operatives hand should slip dangerously near to the saw blade, the projection 26b will have dropped in front of the cutting edge of the saw and the finger will come into contact with the inner side of the projection 26b and its approach to the saw definitely stopped. The positions of the parts in this situation are illustrated in Fig. 4.

If desired, the springs 230 may b provided to force the inner guard member downwardly. Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6 the inner guard members 25 are held in proper spaced relation to the adjacent sides of the outer guard 23 by small spacers 28a. In addition, there may be provided a spacing sleev 28 through which the pivot rod 25 passes and which assists in bolding the inner guard members in relative position. Assisting the spacing sleeve 29 are the spacer rods 26c, already described. which also provide a protection for the operatives hand.

Now referring to Fig. 6 where I have illustrated a slightly modified form, the parts shown are similar to those already described with the exception of the omission of the sleeve 29 and the replacement of the pivot rod 25 by two relatively short pivot rods or bolt I25. The heads I2la take on the function of th spacing sleeve 29 and the absence of the rod 25 extending across between the inner guards, gives the operative a clear view of the point of action of the saw, which, as already pointed out, is a very important feature of this invention.

In order to provide a means for supplementing the force of gravity tending to move the inner guards to their low positions on the table of the saw or the work, there may be provided a spring or springs 230 which may be attached at one end to the spring and at the other to the outer guard or other support.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 will now be described.

The parts 20', 2|, 22, 23, 23a, 23b and 30 are the same as already described for the structure shown in Figs. 1 to G. The modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 relates to the inner guard itself. Instead of making the inner guard and its rigid parts of several units, I provide a bent wire structure 24 which is provided with integral pivot members 24a suitably pivoted as, for example, in the sides of the outer guard members 23. The sides of the inner guard member 24, extend downwardly and in the general direction of the saw but out of the plane of the saw in order to give the operative a full view of the point of action of the saw. At the points where the inner guard normally contacts the table of the saw or the work when in place, there are bends or loops 24b which correspond to and have the same function as the projections 26a already described. Rearward oi the projections 242), the wire body 24 is bent to form protecting loops 240 which are connected together by the connecting portion 24d. In this modification, as in the construction first described, the lower end of the loop nearest the saw is normally out of contact with the table or work and if the finger of the operative should approach the point of action of the saw, the finger will be protected by the lower ends of the loop 240 and the cross member 24d, against a too-close approach to the point or" action of the saw.

It will be observed that the pivot members 24a which are journaled in the sides of the outer guard 23 can be made to remain in place by the resiliency of the inner guard 24 and that to remove the guard from its operative position, it is only necessary to spring in first one of the pivot portions 24a and then the other. The inner guard may then be removed.

The springs 3] are provided, if desired, to help the force of gravity to hold the inner guard in its low position and to move it to a position to intercept the movement of the hand of the operaative in the guiding of the work. These springs are secured at one end to the upper portion of the loop 24 and at the other to the side of the outer guard or other support.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 the parts 28, 2i, 22, 23, 23a. 23b and 35 are the same as the similarly designated parts already described. The inner guard member 22 with its projections I 24a, bonds or loops 424?), and protecting loops I240 is similar to the inner guard 24 with its projections 24a, bends or loops 24b and protecting loops 240 as already described and as shown in Figsj'? and 8.

However, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the cross member connecting the ends of the loops [24c has an upward extending loop 124d which in some constructions where the side projections I24!) and the loops I241? are at a greater distance apart, may give greater protection to the hand of the operative.

It is to be understood that the sizes and proportions or the guards would vary according to the class of work for which the guard or guards may be supplied; as for example, for the thickness of wood or other material to be worked. The guards may be made of metal, plastics or of any suitable material or materials.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 will now be described.

The table 20 rotatably supports the shaft 22 upon which is mounted the saw H as has already been described. The support for the guard member in the present modification differs from the constructions already described. There is also a modification of the guard itself.

Instead of being supported by the outer guard, the guard member 224 is provided with a sup porting means 250 which may in turn, be supported from the frame of the room in which the saw is installed or in any desired manner. In this case, the outer guard already described, may, ii desired, be omitted.

The supporting means is provided with suitable openings 25ila in its lower end through which the ends of the guard member 224 are inserted. The guard member 224 is provided with two pivot portions 224a which contact with the openings and act as pivots about which the guard member 224 swings. One of the pivot members 224a is provided with an extension 2246 for the purpose of applying a spring 2M which is attached at one end to the outer end of the extension 224e and has its other end secured to the supporting means 250 as shown in Fig. 11.

The main part of the guard 224, with its parts 224a, 224b, 2240 and 22411 perform in amanner similar to the performance of the guard 24 and its corresponding portions 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d, already described. The work 228 is illustrated in a position to raise the guard 224 by its pro.- jection 22411 when the work 228 is moved toward the saw blade 2!.

The support 250 may and preferably is adjust.- able to any desired height but since height ad, justing means are old and well known in the art and form no part of the instant invention D l so, no further description of this construction is thought to be necessary.

In the adjusted position shown in Fig. 11 it will be observed that the outer end 224d of the loop 2240 of the guard 224 is in contact with the table 20, in a manner described for the operation of the guard 24 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and .4.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15,, is illustrated av form of the invention as applied to the protection of an operative of a band saw. The saw table I20 is provided with an opening l20a through which the saw blade I2I passes. Adjustably supported above the table I20 is a saw guide block I having a saw guide slot I50d. This block I50 is sup: ported at the low end of the adjustable support I50a which may be supported from above and adjustable in any of the ways which are well known in the art.

The guard block I50 carries a suitable guard supporting means as the U.-shaped member I50b which is secured in place as by the screws I500.

. At the inner end of the U-shaped member I500,

there are provided openings I50e in which the ends 24a of the guard 24 are inserted. The guard 24 shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 is similar in construction to that of Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 and the operations of the portions 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d are the same in both constructions. The spring 23! is somewhat similar in construction to the spring 3| of Fig. 7 and has one end connected to the top of the loop 24c. Its other end is shown connected to the lower edge of the block I50. It is to be noted that the adjustment of support I50a as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 is such that the end of the loop 240 farthest from the operative is in contact with the saw table and the projection 24b is above the saw table.

It will be noted from Figs. 12 14, and 15 that while the operatives hand is protected, there is a clear view of the point of action of the saw to enable the operative to be sure that "a proper cut is being made. In Figs. 16 and 17 is illustrated an application of the invention to a jig-saw. In these Figslli and 17. the upper arm 240 carries the upper end of the saw 22! and the lower or driving arm 24 carries the lower end'of the saw MI. The driv ing arm MI is provided with a crank drive which I have designated generally by the reference character 242 which is well'known in the art as to both its construction and operation. The V- type pulley 243 drives the crank drive 24 2 in a well known manner. 0 In this adaptation of the invention, the guard 224 with its parts 224a, 2242;, 2240 and 224d and the spring 23I are similar in construction and oporation to the similarly constructed guard 224, with its parts 224a, 224b, 2240 and 224d and the spring 21 already described in connection with the illustration of Figs. 11 and 12. The support 250 of Figs. 16 and 17 is similar in construction to that ot Flgspll and 12 with the addition of a pad 2 at each side which may be adjusted through the support 250 so that its under side will be just above the upper surface of the work 223 so that the work will be held on the table to insure a proper out. As shown here, the cross portion 224d 01' the guard 224 is in contact with the saw table 220 while the projection 22% is slightly thereabove.

In this adaptation as well as the others described, it will be clear that the operative will have a clear view of the point of action of the saw while the hand of the operative will be protected from injury.

While this invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is merely illustrative and that modifications and changes in construction, materials, shapes and sizes of the parts and of the structure as a whole may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and within its scope as claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. A protective guard means for a saw comprising an outer guard for resting on the top surface of the work being cut, the outer guard having side portions at the sides of, but out of the line 01 the operators vision toward the point of saw action and having an open end toward the operator, a bifurcated inner guard means between the operator and the place of cutting of the saw, the inner guard means having its bifurcated members on opposite sides of the saw plane and comprising a portion on each bifurcated member movable to a position inthe path of the hand of the operator and out o! the plane of the saw to leave an unobstructed operators view of the point 01' action of the saw on the work and a second portion on each bifurcated member and spaced from the first portion a distance, at least, equal to the space occupied by the operators finger, and in position to form a fingerstop short of the cutting edge of the saw.

2. A protective guard means for a saw comprising an outer guard for resting on the ,top surface of the work being cut. the outer guard having side portions at theasides of, but out oi the line of the operators vision toward the point of saw action and an open and toward the operator, a bifurcated inner guard means pivotally supported from the sides of the outerguard and movable with relation thereto, the inner guard means having a plurality of contacting means for the hand of the operator when the hand approaches the saw blade and spaced apart sufllciently to receive. an operators finger, the contacting means being out of the plane of the saw to permit of an unobstructed operators view of the point of action, of the saw, the contacting means nearest the saw being in the form of a finger-stop.

3. A protective guard means fora saw comprising a support, a movable outer guard mov ably mounted thereon at the side of the saw position and outwardly of and away from the operators clear view or the point of saw action, a

plurality of work-engaging projections pivotally supported on the outer guard and substantially in a line from the operators eye to the point of action of the saw but out oi the plane of the saw, the projections being in position and mounted for simultaneous upward movement to oil'er resistance to the movement of the operator's hand toward the point of action of the saw the projections being spaced apart a sumcient distance to receive the finger o! the operator, one of the projections forming a finger-stop adiacent the saw.

4. A protective guard means for a saw com prising a support, a movable outer guard mounted thereon, a plurality 01' work engaging projections pivotally supported on the outer guard and movable substantially in a plane parallel to but out of the plane of the saw, a second plurality of work engaging projections spaced from the first mentioned set of projections a distance apart greater than the width of an operators finger and out of the plane of the saw, means for connecting the projections to cause them to move as a unit, the projections being so placed out of the saw plane as to leave a clear view from the eye of the operator to the point of action of the saw and in positions to arrest the hand of the operator if brought dangerously near to the saw.

5. An outer saw-covering guard hood, an inner finger-stopping guard comprising a rigid memher to engage and be raised by the work piece and pivoted to and supported from and within said outer hood, the pivot being above the work and at the end of the hood toward the operator, the end of the hood toward the operator being open and the sides being laterally spaced from the plane of the saw and the parts of the inner guard engaging the work being normally below and toward the saw from said pivot and out o! the plane of the saw to give the operator an unobstructed view of the point of action of the saw, said inner guard having two downwardly projecting portions on the side of the pivot toward the saw, a beveled-face portion to be engaged and raised by the work as the work passes under and just beyond the pivot and a fingerstopping portion beyond said beveled-face portion and at a right angle to a radius from the pivot to drop behind the work after said work has passed it and to stop positively the operators finger from further motion toward the saw.

CHRISTIAN C. PETERSEN.

References Cited in the tile 0! this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 997,720 Troupenat July 11, 1911 1,594,772 Fournier Aug. 3, 1926' 2,010,851 Drummond Aug. 13, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 26,400 Germany Mar. 26, 1884 153,002 Austria Apr. 11, 1938 385,083 Germany Nov. 16, 1923 

